A Melbourne primary school has been accused of causing “division” and “confusing” children after it began teaching students a different version of the National Anthem.
Shadow Fisheries, Forestry and Environment Minister Jonathon Duniam says the national anthem is for “all of us” and is not divisive or racist.
This comes as players on the Kangaroos NRL team refused to sing Australia’s national anthem, following the defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum.
“Despite what some say, it represents this country and all of us,” Mr Duniam told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
“The fact that there are some people who think it’s a bold and brave thing to do to stand there silently, bringing shame on your country as a matter of fact when you do that, I think is outrageous.
“The idea that people get upset by these things does not properly assess how resilient I think Australian people actually are.”
For the past six months, students at Yarraville West Primary School have been signing an altered version of Australia’s national anthem at school assemblies.
The altered version applies a different set of lyrics to the tune of Advance Australia Fair, with The new words containing lines about “the Dreaming” and Australia’s “ancient history and cultures”.
3AW radio host Tom Elliott slammed the school’s decision to alter the national anthem, arguing the school missed the point of a national anthem and would confuse children.
A primary school in Melbourne’s west is under fire for teaching students an altered version of Australia’s national anthem.
“The Australian national anthem is not just some, you know, ‘love it or leave it’ song, that you may or may not want to sing. It is the anthem of our country,” Elliott said.
“The reason we teach children the Australian National Anthem is so if they go to the grand final and they stand up before the game starts, they can sing along. If they’re watching the Olympics and Australia wins a gold medal, they can sing along.
“You can’t teach primary school children a different version of our anthem, it’s just confusing for them.”
The 3AW mornings host said he didn’t mind the song being sung at Yarraville West Primary was “not a bad anthem”, the problem was that “it’s just not the anthem”.
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“I remember in the late 70s when we had a referendum on the anthem. I was too young to vote, but I thought that Waltzing Matilda was a better choice,” he said.
“But it doesn’t mean that when the Australian anthem is sung and an official event that I sing Waltzing Matilda while everybody else is singing advanced Australia fear.”
Institute of Public Affairs Deputy Executive Director Daniel Wild also hit out at the Melbourne primary school’s decision, describing it as an “appalling example of activism and division being forced upon students” and calling on the premier to “pull this school into line”.
“Our national anthem is a uniting force in our society, as it speaks to all Australians regardless of their background,” Mr Wild said.
“But, yet again, we are witnessing the activists and elites in our society trying to divide us.”
3AW Radio host Tom Elliott said signing a different version of the national anthem would confuse students. Picture: Jay Town/ News Corp Australia
Created by the Dulwich Centre community group, with input from Seekers star Judith Durham and Indigenous singer-songwriter Kutcha Edwards, the altered anthem begins with a call for Australians to celebrate with “peace and harmony”, with the full first verse being:
“Australia, celebrate as one, with peace and harmony;
Our precious water, soil and sun, grant life for you and me;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts to love, respect and share;
And honouring the Dreaming, advance Australia fair;
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.”
The subsequent verses of the altered national anthem also bear little resemblance to the actual words of the official national anthem.
“Australia, let us stand as one, upon this sacred land;
A new day dawns, we’re moving on to trust and understand;
Combine our ancient history and cultures everywhere;
To bond together for all time, advance Australia fair;
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.
“Australia, let us strive as one, to work with willing hands;
Our Southern Cross will guide us on, as friends with other lands;
While we embrace tomorrow’s world with courage, truth and care;
And all our actions prove the words, advance Australia fair;
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.
“And when this special land of ours is in our children’s care;
From shore to shore forever more, advance Australia fair;
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance . . Australia . . fair.”